Crescent City Lights Youth Theater Celebrates its 20th Anniversary!
Founded in 1993 by Julie Condy. Here she wears her Music Director hat, teaching proper technique the children of the first production How to Eat Like a Child in 1993.
Its goal was to fill a gap in arts programming for young people by providing affordable theater programs for children in the New Orleans area.
In 1995, the troupe was incorporated in Louisiana as a nonprofit corporation under the name Stage to Stage and produced it’s third show Runaways.
In 1997 CCLTYT received its 501(c) (3) non-profit organization status. It’s fifth summer produced a remount of How to Eat Like a Child and Luther, a new jazz musical by Delfeayo Marsalis.
Like so many organizations in New Orleans, Stage to Stage lost its home and many of its students as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Ever the visionary, Julie formed partnerships with the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD). A community partnership with NORD allows CCLYT to use the NORD Ty Tracy Theatre on the 1st floor of the historic Gallier Hall, the former City Hall. Through this partnership we are able to continue a 60 year tradition of theater for youth within NORD.
The Dracula Spectacula was interrupted by Katrina but brought back in the first season in the NORD Ty Tracy Theatre.
Schoolhouse Rock, Live! Too joined The Dracula Spectacula in the opening season in NORD Ty Tracy Theatre.
CCLYT has produced over 40 fully staged youth productions – 20 at the NORD Theatre – for public performances, serving more than 600 young people, from ages 7 to 17.
Dear Edwina, Jr. 2012
CCLYT now sees its alums working as young adults in a variety of fields from professional dance, acting and opera to teachers, writers, artists, models, and advertising executives among others. In 2011 and 2012 CCLYT won Most Outstanding Achievement awards at the Junior Theater Festival, Atlanta GA.